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World’s first national live music census announced

A volunteer army of music lovers is being recruited to take part in the UK’s first ever live music census.

For one night in March, organisers aim to track performances in cities across the country – from lone buskers to massed choirs, from pub gigs to stadium concerts.

They hope the survey – a world first – will help measure live music’s cultural and economic value, discover what challenges the industry is facing, and inform policy to help it flourish.

National snapshot

There will be coordinated censuses in Glasgow, Newcastle, Oxford, Leeds, Birmingham, Southampton and Brighton.

The UK Live Music Census – conducted by the universities of Edinburgh, Newcastle and Glasgow – will run for 24 hours from noon on Thursday 9 March.

"Springwatch for music"

Volunteers can sign up via the official website (link below). They will be asked to record aspects of the gig including the musical genre, the venue, door charge and audience demographic.

“This is like a Springwatch for live music. We want people to let us know everything about the music they see on this one day. Live music in the UK – from the Beatles and the Sex Pistols to West End musicals and Glastonbury – has transformed our culture, yet it is constantly under pressure. This census will help give us an accurate snapshot of the scene’s health.”

Dr Matt BrennanChancellor's Fellow, Reid School of Music

Online survey

A nationwide online survey for musicians, venues, promoters and audiences will also go live on 9 March and will be open until 8 May.

It will gather information about why people attend gigs, which venues are considered important, how much people spend and how far they will travel.

Collaboration

The census is led by academics from the University of Edinburgh’s Reid School of Music – part of Edinburgh College of Art – in collaboration with Newcastle University’s International Centre for Music Studies and the University of Glasgow’s School of Culture and Creative Arts. The project is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Two years ago the project team ran a pilot live music census in Edinburgh. Its findings were used to inform the city council’s decision to change its policies about noise levels to the benefit of performers.

The University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number
SC005336, VAT Registration Number GB 592 9507 00, and is acknowledged by the UK authorities as a
“Recognised body” which has been
granted degree awarding powers.